Filing-receptacle



ATENT FFICE.

FELIx TRAMBLAY, or oHIoAeo, ILLINOIS.

FILING-RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,870, dated October 15, 1895.

Application led November 26,1894. Serial No. 529,942. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX TRAMBLAY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful- Improvements in FilingiReceptacles; and I do lhereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of temporary binders for letters and other papers comprising a shallow box or receptacle open at one end and at its top' and normally constituting one of a series of drawers of a cabinet, and which receptacle is provided with index-sheets and a spring-pressed bail normally operating to hold down theindex-sheets and the letters and other papers which may be placed between them, but which bail may be swung up at will to permit free access to the papers when desired.

The invention relates more particularly to the construction of the presser-bail and the means for actuating the same, as well as to the improved construction whereby such device is secured to the box or ming-receptacle. It will be more fully comprehended by referring to the accompanying drawings and sub, joined description thereof and will be more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure l represents in plan View a box or filing-receptacle with my improvements applied thereto; and Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by arrows. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2, showing only the bail-actuating spring, the plate for holding it, and a portion of the bail. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are plan, front, and side views, respectively, of the holding device or plate, illustrating its construction. Fig. 7 is a plan .view of the spring.

I designate the filing receptacle or box as a whole by the letter A, and the index-sheets, the holding-plates, the bail, and the actuatingspring by the letters' B C D E, respectively. The box A may be constructed in any convenient manneras, for example, with a bottom ct, two side walls a. a, and an end wall a2, connecting the rear ends of thelatter. It

will be provided with any convenient form of clip, as A', for securing the index-leaves B to the back a2 of the box, and will be provided,

near each end of the back a2, with a verticallyextending recess a3, opening into or toward the interior of the box A. The length or vertical extent as well as the depth of the recess will depend upon the size and iiexibility of the springE that is used. As shown in Fig. 2, the recess aa is not of uniform depth, the back wall near the upper part of the recess gradually curving forward and upwardly in such manner as to intersect the top margin or edge of the end orback board a2, while the back wall, near the lower portion 0f the recess, is directed forward and downward until it reaches the front margin of the back a2 at a short distance from and above the lower edge. This particular arrangement of the recess as described is essential only so far as it relates to the particular construction of the plate C, and will be varied somewhat to register with the obvious modifications of the latter to be hereinafter pointed out. The plate C is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal, sheet-steel being preferred, and when first stamped out presents the appearance shown in Fig. 4. By bending the blank longitudinally, as indicated by the two dotted lines, Fig. 4, two side flanges c c are formed, extending rearwardly and at right angles to the main portion c of the plate C, and by bending the upper portion ofthe blank transversely, as indicated by the two upper dotted lines, a top rearward extension c2 is formed, having a downwardly extending flange c5 at its rear margin. The extension c2, as shown, rests upon the upper edge or man gin' of the back a2 and covers the open upper end of the'recess as, and the flange c? is entered within a suitable recess cut vertically into the back a2, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Preferably a portion of the back a2 is cut away, so that the extension c2 may be so set therein that its'top surface will be ush with the upper edge of the back a2, thus giving a neat and finished appearance. The

rear flange c3, engaging the recess in the back 0,2, aords a cheap and convenient means of securing the top end of the plate C to the ren ceptacle, and one which resists successfully the tendency of the plate t0 move forward or out of said recess when the bail is actuated. The blank may not be bent to form the flange c3, and in that event the extension cL may be secured to the back a2 by a screw extending vertically into the back through a suitable screwhole. This and other means of securing the upper part of the plate C to the back a2 are within the scope of my invention andwill be manifest without further illustration. The lower end of the plate C may also be secured in any convenient manner; but I prefer to make an aperture c4 through the plate and insert a screw c5 therethrough and into the back az, as shown. The arrangement of the plate C and the means for holding it to its place on the back a2 is so simple that no skilled labor is required to adjust it or put it in place and at the same time is very inexpensive.

'lhe spring E is provided at its ends with notches or shoulders e, preferably four in number, arranged, as shown, in pairs and forming between each pair a tongue e', somewhat narrower than the spring E. These tongues e e are easily put through slits or openings e2 e2, formed one each in the upper and lower spring supports or brackets E of the plate C, by first bending the spring E be tween the fingers, and inasmuch as the said brackets E are of greater width than the width of the tongues c of the spring E it follows that the said brackets hold said spring in its normal position by directly engaging the shoulders e e. It will be noticed that the slit or opening e2 is about as long as or only slightly longer than the width of the tongue e.

The brackets E' may be made in any suitable manner; but preferably they are integral with the plate C and are severed therefrom except at one side, which in one instance is the top side and in the other the lower. Both the top and bottom brackets E are bent rearwardly from the front plate c at right angles thereto and parallel to each other.

The presser-bail D consists of a single piece of wire pivotally secured to a supporting cross bar or rod D', the end portionsdof which form arms which extend rearwardly and are pivotally secured to the plate C, as will be presently explained. The said bail proper D comprises the front side section d', two end sections cl2 di, two rear side sections d3 da, and the two ends CZ" d4. An eye or loop d5 is formed in each end section di, through which the cross bar or rod D may pass to form a pivotal connection. The extreme end of the wire end d* is also formed or bent into an eye or loop d6 d around the more central portions of the cross bar or wire D', thus affording pivotal connection therewith. The ends d4 (Z4 are relatively quite a distance apart for the purpose of affording a space on that (the rear) side of the cross bar D' for the hand or forearm of the person using the device when the presser-bailD is raised upward and away from the index sheets In practice this simple expedient is found to be of great utility and convenience; but of course the rear sides d3 cl3 might be lengthened and united, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, if desired, in which event the ends d4 d4 and loops d6 d will be dispensed with. The construction first described, however, is preferred.

The ends of the arms d d of the crosswire D are directed inwardly or toward each other and parallel to said cross-wire to form pivotal studs F F, which rest in openings ff through the side flanges c c of the plate C, that constitute bearings for said pivotal studs. The central portion of the stud F is bent or olset to form a crank f', and an antifrictionroller F may be and preferably is placed around the crank f', as shown.

The arrangement of the spring E and the crank f is such that when the bailD is resting iu its normal position upon the index leaves B, under the influence of said spring, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) the crank f will be vertically disposed in the space between the spring E and the back surface of the front plate c of the clip C, and that directly the bail is raised from said position, as when additional letters are tiled between the index-sheets B, thus increasing the thickness of the mass beneath the bail. The crank f or the friction-roller F, if one is used, will press the spring E rearward, and a still greater downward pressure will be exerted upon the bail D. When it is desired to have the bail D raised for any considerable length of time, as when filed letters are to be examined or other letters are to be filed, the arms d are to be moved upwardly and rearwardly until the crank f passes below the-dead centen-t'. e., below the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 3--whereupon the spring E will exert its pressure to still further raise said arms and the bail and to hold the latter in a raisedposition, as will be readily understood. The length of the crossbar D is preferably almost equal to the width of the lilereceptacle, so that the arms d d will be located adjacent to the inner surfaces of the sides a thereof and practically out of the way. Vertical recesses or notches ff"2 are made in the front surface of the back a2 of the receptacle A, registering with the arms d, whereby an upward movement thereof sufficient for all practical purposes is permitted.

The plate C being formed out of a single piece of sheet metal renders its manufacture very inexpensive, as but two operations are required-stamping or cutting the blank and binding it-botll of which are performed by machinery. The simplicity of the bail and the ease with which it may be set in place and the spring set in position makes the work of assembling the whole device one easy to be accomplished by cheap labor, such as boys and girls. The metal parts are usually nickelplated. Thus the invention is very neat in appearance, positive in operation, has no complicated parts to get out of order, which reduces the cost of first production and brings the replacing of any broken part down to the ICO minimum cost, and at the same time is desirable and highly elicient for the purpose intended.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a filing receptacle having a vertical recess arranged on the inner face of its back wall, the combination, with a spring-pressed bail arm pivotally secured in said recess, of a plate covering said recess, a leaf spring mounted on said plate, and an anti-friction roller secured to the end of said bail arm, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with a filing receptacle or box adapted for the filing of loose papers therein, and a movable bail adapted to rest 'on said papers, of vertically arranged recesses in the back of said box, plates secured to said box and covering said recesses, a leaf spring secured to said plate Within said recesses, arms connected at one end to said movable bailand pivotally secured at the other end to said plate, and a crank formed by bending the last mentioned end of said arms and located between the rear of the plate and said spring in contact with the latter, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, the device for securing the swinging arm ot' a bail to a filing receptacle or box, consisting of the plate provided at one end with an integral extension having a right angled depending flange, vertical side pieces, and top and bottom brackets extending rearwardly from said plate to form supports for the actuating spring, said side pieces being provided with journal bearings for the end of the bail arm, all of said parts being stamped out of a sin gle piece of metal, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a recess in the front part of the back wall of a ling receptacle, a plate, removably secured to said back wall and adapted to cover said recess, integral brackets or supports extending rearwardly from said plate into said recess, a spring mounted in said brackets a bail supporting arm pivotally secured at its end within said recess and provided with a bend or crank portion positioned between said plate and said spring in engagement with the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a ling receptacle having a recess in its back wall, a plate covering said recess, and a bail supporting arm pivotally secured in said recess, the combination, with a spring for actuating said bail arm provided at its ends with a tongue narrower than the width of the spring, of brackets or supports in said recess provided with apertures of less width than the spring but sufficiently wide to accommodate the tongue thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

6. In a filing box, the combination, of the box A, spring pressed arms d pivotally secured thereto, cross bar D', and the bail D consisting of a single piece of wire having the front side d', end arms d2 pivotally secured to the cross bar D by the loop d5, rear side sections da, ends d4 also united to said, cross bar D by loops d6, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with the filing receptacle A, provided with index sheets B, of a bail D and supporting arms, means for pivotally securing said arms to said receptacle, comprising a plate C, having an aperture c4, integral top extension c2 and flange c3, integral side pieces o c each having a journal bearing, asf, and integral supports E', of means for normally pressing'said bail on said index sheets comprising a spring E mountedl on said supports E and engaging said arms, substantially as specified.`

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A FELIX TRAMBLAY.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, W. S. HALL. 

